After a stellar playing career at UCF, Brandon Romans joined the staff as the volunteer assistant coach in the spring of 2010. A native of Cocoa, Fla., Romans played three seasons with the Black and Gold, hitting .314 for his career with 17 home runs and 77 RBI.
Romans' efforts with the offense helped the 2011 Knights rank first in C-USA in runs, hits, homers, slugging, RBI and doubles. They went on to post their most successful season since 2005 by finishing with a 39-23 record. But most importantly, UCF returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004 as it earned a No. 2 seed for the Tallahassee Regional.
A pair of sluggers earned several accolades during the year as well. Jonathan Griffin punishing opposing pitchers with 19 homers to be voted onto the All-C-USA First Team, while D.J. Hicks led C-USA with 66 RBI and was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, which is handed out to the nation's top player.
In year one with Romans assisting the outfield and the catchers, the Knights' offense ranked as one of the best in the country in 2010. Outfielders Chris Duffy (.447) and Shane Brown (.428) would become the first duo in C-USA history to hit .400 in the same season as they went on to earn spots on the All-C-USA First Team.
And freshman center fielder Ronnie Richardson shined as well, leading all C-USA freshmen with a .448 on-base percentage.
Behind the plate, catchers Beau Taylor, Chris Taladay and Ryan Breen would each start at least 39 games for the Knights. Taylor boasted a .354 average and a .986 fielding percentage, Taladay served as the every day third baseman en route to being voted as the C-USA Freshman of the Year, and Breen hit .348 while swiping 11 bases as the primary designated hitter.